Via Brands

Video Review: Rock & Republic (Blushes) First Impressions & Swatches

I reviewed CALL ME on Monday, but here’s a video I shot when I first opened up the four blushes I purchased from HauteLook, close-ups, me talking far too much per usual, and swatches. I will do written reviews for the rest as well — not to fear!

Milani Runway Eyeshadow: Caribbean Sea

Milani Caribbean Sea Runway Eyeshadow ($5.99 for 0.07 oz.) is such a pretty shade of aqua blue… if you use it wet. When used dry, it’s rather lackluster and almost takes on a greenish cast; it’s also on the sheer side. However, add just a touch of fixing spray or water to your brush before picking up the shadow yields a much more intense, pigmented shade of lightened aqua blue. You’ll need to pack on the color, rather than sweep on, to get the best results. It’s not a great eyeshadow, but it’s workable when wet.

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Product: 23/30

Value: 8/10

Ease of Use: 4/5

Packaging: 2/5

RECOMMENDATION: Color eyeshadow fiends should probably pass, just because it’s nowhere near as pigmented as many top brands for color–but if you just want to play around and experiment with color, this is an affordable way to do so.

Fashion’s Night Out with Chanel

In honor of Fashion’s Night Out, Chanel has put together Les Khakis de Chanel, a collection featuring a trio of nail lacquers. These will be available on September 10th at chanel.com, Chanel boutiques, and select department store counters. Each shade retails for $25.00.

Edited @ 2:42pm: Added comparison photos of Khaki Vert against Sew Psyched, because I don’t think they’re dupes, but I’ve had a lot of questions asking if they are! Pics or shut up, right? I like Sew Psyched, too, but they are different enough on me that I wouldn’t call ‘em dupes.

Khaki Brun is a deep olive green-tinged brown. It’s a rather murky brown with just this touch of green to it; it’s distinctly brown but in natural light, the olive tones are pulled out more. Just two coats.

Khaki Rose is a rose-tinged medium-dark brown. It has such a subtle rosiness to it that it’s almost not there, but yet you can’t say it’s not, because there’s something about how the rose warms up the brown. Two coats.

Khaki Vert is a grayish-cast medium green. Not really murky, but it’s not bright or happy either; a rather neutral green, I’d say. It’s not quite camo green, because it doesn’t have strong yellow or live undertones. Two coats. I don’t think this is really similar to Essie’s Sew Psyched–this is much greener, while Sew Psyched pulls almost blue/teal in comparison.

The formula on these was a bit thicker than usual, but it didn’t make for difficult application–quite the opposite! Application was nearly flawless with each coat being incredibly pigmented. One coat would have almost been enough on each one, but two coats created that smooth, opaque look. I always hate how these end up being B+ products, which is really due to the price, not the quality of the product (which is excellent).

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Product: 29/30

Value: 6/10

Ease of Use: 4/5

Packaging: 4/5

RECOMMENDATION: All three had fantastic pigmentation and applied flawlessly, so if a color catches your eye and you don’t mind the price tag of Chanel, I definitely recommend trying it out.

Urban Decay Black Palette

Now available @ Sephora! It is an eyeshadow palette with six black-based eyeshadows (0.04 oz. each) and one travel-sized Zero 24/7 Liner (0.03 oz.). It also includes a miniature-sized Eden Primer Potion. The palette retails for $36.

This glittery black compact with mirror features a daring palette of five black-based, glimmering, jewel-toned eyeshadows, and Urban Decay’s darkest matte black eyeshadow, Black Dog, for adding dimension like never before. The set comes complete with a travel-size 24/7 Eye Pencil in Zero and a mini genie bottle of Eyeshadow Primer Potion, so your color stays deep, dark and alluring all day and night.

CoverFX International Treasure Hunt!

For the next couple of days, CoverFX will be posting hints for locations on their Facebook. I think it’s a very cute, interesting idea that gets fans involved in a way that I haven’t really see a beauty brand do before. Happy hunting!

Video Review: Philosophy Cookies ‘n Creme Shower Gel

Who doesn’t love Cookies ‘n Creme? What, you don’t? Are you serious? Can you make me not like Cookies ‘n Creme, ’cause my waistline would appreciate it? I will probably do a regular review write-up for this, though I’ve reviewed so many shower gels before, and this one smells as the name describes, so there’s really nothing to report… but anyway, video! I can’t believe I spent five minutes talking about shower gel, sigh!

If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ!

Product: 27/30

Value: 8/10

Ease of Use: 4/5

Packaging: 4/5

RECOMMENDATION: If you like sweet scents, you might like Cookies ‘n Creme!